“Josh, Daniel’s going to have to rebuild the floor if you pound it one more time,” Ben chuckled.

“But it’s taking so long,” he wailed, and Daniel took a step closer, reaching out to hold him still.

“Babies tend to do that,” Noah agreed solemnly. Ben grinned and leaned back against Zach, who immediately put his arms around his waist. They were all hanging around the reception area. Like all of them. Beth had gone into labor over nine hours ago—it felt like nine years—and while they had a midwife here running things, Chris and Angie were in the room with Beth.

Much to her delight, so was May-belle, who seemed to be thrilled with her new grandma role. She had been on the island constantly for the last six weeks, and Ben didn’t think she was in a hurry to leave. Matt was pacing around outside, and Charlie was bouncing in between everyone.

Ben was ridiculously happy. Zach had taken hundreds of shots for Everybody’s Smile, and it was doing so well two other centers were being built in Atlanta and Orlando. Ben was the official “face” of the charity and didn’t mind how many people saw pictures of him, especially if a certain sexy photographer had taken them. They were both incredibly busy. Zach was studying, and they both had decided to put off the wedding until they had time to travel, but Ben suddenly decided he didn’t want to wait to share his news. He was originally going to wait until they were having dinner, but they had all just been grabbing snacks for the last few hours.

He turned in Zach’s arms to look at him. “I got an email this morning.”

Zach lifted one eyebrow while he waited for Ben to explain.

“They love my book,” he whispered, and Zach’s face broke out into a huge smile.

“Well, of course they do. I knew they would. They offered you a contract.” It wasn’t a question, and Ben snuggled into Zach. Zach always had confidence in him, especially on the days he didn’t have it in himself. “Congratulations,” Zach murmured and dipped his head for a kiss which Ben eagerly returned.

A sharp wail had them breaking apart and everyone looking at the bedroom that Beth had been sleeping in for the last few weeks. Josh had wanted her somewhere with more room than the single rooms the staff had. Beth had never wavered from her wish to have the baby adopted and had finally decided to go to college and spread her wings a little. Ben was sure the fact that Chris was here and safe, so she didn’t have to worry about him, went a long way to helping her make the decision. And it would always be her home. She would be back every vacation. Noah was helping her put the final touches on her financial aid packet.

Everyone stood, barely breathing, for what seemed like another nine hours until the door opened, and Angie put her head out. “Mother and baby are perfect, but we’re gonna have to do the visits in small groups, guys.” Ben chuckled and prepared to stand back.

“Beth wants Josh, Daniel, Ben, Zach, Charlie, and Noah first.”

“We can wait,” Ben offered in case it was too much. He knew Josh would likely expire if he had to wait any longer.

Angie smiled and shook her head, opening the door wide so they all trooped in. The midwife looked up and grinned while he jotted some notes in a file. Ben’s eyes were immediately drawn to the crib and the swaddled baby that seemed asleep in it. May-belle was sitting in a chair next to the bed and stood as they all came in. Beth was lying in bed and frankly looked way too tired to be having this many visitors, but she smiled when May-belle bent and kissed her on the forehead.

Chris stood quietly holding her hand but moved back next to May-belle when Josh rushed towards the bed. “Beth,” Josh said, the obvious tears already in his voice. “How are you, sweetheart? Is everything alright?” he placed his hand on top of Beth’s as she smiled at him. “You’ve done so well.”

Beth glanced at the midwife then looked back at Josh. “If you sit there, you can hold her.” Josh’s lips parted soundlessly, but he immediately moved to sit on the chair May-belle had been in. “Are you sure?” he said in wonder and looked in shock as the midwife picked up the bundle from the crib and gently placed it in Josh’s arms.

“Oh,” Josh gulped as his arms wrapped around her gently. Tears spilling down his face. “She’s beautiful. What are you going to call her?”

Beth swallowed. “I’m not going to name her. That’s for her new parents to decide.”

Josh looked up quickly, an apology written all over his face. “Of course, I’m—”

“So, you had better start thinking of some,” Beth added quietly.

Ben drew in a sharp breath at the same time as nearly everyone else who had just walked in. Josh didn’t breathe. He didn’t move.

“Beth?” Daniel finally asked, moving up and standing next to Josh.

“She’s yours,” Beth confirmed. “I couldn’t think of a better couple to raise a baby.”

Josh tried to speak, and Daniel knelt down beside him and cupped his face, wiping the tears away that were streaming down his face. Ben leaned back into Zach and swallowed down his own.

“Are you sure?” Josh finally managed to croak out.

“Yes,” she nodded determinedly. “Definitely. I want it fully legal and everything. I want to start school next year knowing she’s going to be all right and loved.”

“I can’t…don’t know how to say thank you enough,” Daniel choked out finally.

Beth grinned. “By making sure you always have a home for the people I might send you.”

Noah chuckled. “You’ve decided then?”

“What?” Zach asked.

“I’m going to be a social worker and work with young adults,” Beth announced happily. “And I want to help make sure Daniel’s ideas actually happen.”

“What ideas?” Ben asked.

Daniel dragged his eyes away from where Joshua was cuddling their new baby. “I’m starting a new foundation. We want residential accommodation to be partially funded at the very least. It’s one of the biggest problems that LGBT young adults face. There aren’t enough shelter beds available, and most of these young people can’t get a job simply because they are on the street. Low paying jobs don’t pay enough for somewhere to live, and it’s nearly impossible to have one without the other. Catch 22.”

Beth smiled sleepily and then yawned. “Meet Mark,” she nodded towards the midwife. “He’s got all the bottles and feeding stuff, and he’s going to take you and your daughter and get you started.”

“Our daughter,” Joshua repeated in wonder and started crying again, but everyone took the hint and Angie opened the door.

Josh stood very carefully, and Daniel leaned down to Beth and kissed her cheek. “Thank you so much.”

Beth closed her eyes then opened them again. “Charlie?”

“Yes?” Charlie peeped out from where he was standing next to Noah.

“You have a nursery to decorate,” she murmured. “I don’t know what Josh and Daniel will want, but I’m thinking something cheerful, loving, and lots of rainbows.”

Zach tightened his arms around Ben. “Just like this place, then.”

And it was.

---